TxK

PSV

BAJOAlright, first review of the show! This is TxK for the PlayStation Vita handheld; and it's a sequel of a remake... of the 1981 arcade game, Tempest.

DARRENAffirmative. Legendary game developer Jeff Minter created Tempest 2000 in the 90s in an effort to revitalize the arcade original. And now, 20 years later, Minter is once again dragging Tempest into modern day. He's a fascinating developer - I'll tell you more about his story in The Darren Report later in the show!

HEXWell I look forward to watching that, DARREN. For those of you who weren't around in 1981...or even 1994, let me explain what these games are all about! In TxK you control a space ship at one end of a 2D plane. Attackers approach from the opposite side up a series of channels with the goal of destroying your ship or abducting you by reaching your end-zone. You fire along these paths to destroy the approaching enemies, earning points as you go.

BAJOThe early levels are pretty basic shapes like squares, but as your progress, the designs become more interesting and progressively more difficult to navigate. Some of the later levels bend and twist through themselves whilst you're playing.

DARRENIt's a simple concept, but the art is in the execution. The presentation is really slick - vibrant colours compliment the on-screen action and pulsing electronic beats really drive you through the stages.

HEXIt's a kaleidoscopic feast! In fact, often the colour and movement gets so cluttered it's hard to tell what's going on, but the scramble to clear the screen and get back in control of situation is all part of the game's challenge.

BAJOYeah, and unlike the arcade games of yore which were designed to be relentlessly challenging, TxK has an ebb and flow to its difficulty. Upon completing each stage you are rewarded with a short bonus period as you fly through to the next level. These give you some time to catch your breath and refocus before the next wave!

DARRENOne of the interesting features of TxK is that it remembers your best run and allows you to proceed from this run at any point. If for instance you reached level 20 with 4 lives and a killer score but noobed out miserably on this round, you could start a new game from level 20 at any time with the same lives and score. It really encourages you to push your way through all 100 levels.

HEXThere are a number of different enemy types, with unique movement and attack patterns which you'll have to learn... but you have variety of weapons and power-ups at your disposal to help you take out any foe!

BAJOYou'll start each round with a bomb. You only get one per round but, with a touch of the Vita's screen, a huge wave will blast out destroying all of the enemies that are in the play area. Using the bomb whilst being abducted will save you from the enemy's clutches, so it can be a good idea to save it for those desperate moments! It's also a good tool for score-chasers as you gain a point bonus for each enemy killed.

DARRENAffirmative! Also, as you play through levels you'll have to opportunity to grab power-ups which are drifting up the board. Collecting these gives you bonuses to your weapon's damage and fire rate and the occasional 1-UP! Upgrades to your ship reset every level, so it's important to grab them as often as you can.

HEXOne ability that'll you unlock early in each level is the "jump". This sends you leaping above the play space for an opportunity to clear enemies that have reached your end-zone...but while you're in the air you don't score any points.

BAJOAnd then there's the AI Droid which will quickly become your best friend. The Droid is a big spikey ball which rolls over enemies that have reached your end-zone and also fires down lanes to help you mop up baddies. I love him! What are you going to give it, Hex?

HEXI was worried that this game was going to feel a bit dated next to modern arcade shooters like Geometry Wars, but TxK really feels at home in 2014. This is fast paced and great fun. I'm giving it 8 out of 10 rubber chickens.

BAJOYeah this has a "one-more-go" hook that kept me playing for hours. I'm giving it 8 and a half rubber chickens.